Carmen Lezeth Suarez – Adviser, Writer, Performer

Menu

Three Things. . . TCML

*in case you don’t want to watch the video, here’s a sorta transcript:

Three things…That Changed My Life (TCML):

Okay, that sounds a little over-dramatic, but honestly, baby steps. These are three baby steps I took to get where I am right now in my life and I can honestly tell you, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been! I’m not even exaggerating. I tracked every step for the past year to monitor what worked and what didn’t work and now, I want to share those things that did…so here goes three of them:

1) When you wake up in the morning, DON’T grab your cell phone. Everyone does it and I’m telling you – if you can break this habit, it will change the way your morning begins. At the very least I was shocked at how hard a habit it was to break. Now, I don’t even look at my cell phone for the first hour after I wake and sometimes I don’t even look at it till after I write. Try it. You’ll be shocked at how hard it is to do — but once you do it, you’ll start your morning off so differently!

2) Instead of using your cell in your car, try listening to music! Besides the idea that it really is dangerous to drive and talk/text and all that which I won’t rehash here, the truth is, if you can just listen to music while you’re in your car instead of taking business calls and such, you will have a wonderful place to distress! Everyone is always talking about how they have no time for themselves, well this is the easiest way to enjoy what I like to call “ME” time! And it’s so old school — when was the last time you just sang your heart out to some old song on the radio? I’m telling you — this is the easiest, cheapest and most fun way to distress — and you don’t need to FIND the time — you just have to turn the music on and enjoy!

3) You’ve all heard this one before, but I actually did it, and it does works. I didn’t believe it would, but, it did and it does. Everyday look into the mirror and tell yourself that you are beautiful, remarkable and here for a purpose. I never really believed that talking to myself in the mirror could change something about me, but I’ve done it, I still do it and it helps me start my day in a positive way. It empowers me. It reminds me. This one you’ll just have to trust me on. Try it every day for two weeks till you really believe it — I’m telling you…trust me.

Again, it’s all baby steps. But now that I’m finally where I want to be in my life (and loving it!) – I’m positive that some things that I changed in my life in the past year worked brilliantly – now it may not work for you, but it JUST might! At the very least, it can’t hurt!

Great advice Carmen! The first two will really take a lot of stress out of your life. Everyone needs a little “Me” time to get away from this hectic, frantic world we live in and just “CHILL” for awhile. I really love the third piece of advice as well Carmen, I’m going to have to try it.

I wonder what it is about wanting to grab the cell phone or get onto Facebook first thing in the morning. We are social creatures and so my guess is that we want to check to see if anyone sent something specifically to us. Checked up n us maybe. Maybe that rush to the computer indicates a desire to reach out to someone before we even get the sleep out of our eyes. I don’t mean in a needy way – just ….. A desire to connect.

Imagine what it must have been like before the Internet, when people got grumpy because the mailman hadn’t arrived at the usual time, like he was supposed to. Maybe there was a letter we were expecting.

I don’t have a car right now (not needed in this city) but when I did, the *last* thing I ever did was get on my cell. The music was too present, and required my interaction and involvement. I remember driving miles out of my way just to keep listening and sometimes singing.

I think we’ve crossed a line — from wanting to connect, to being so attached to our gadgets that we’ve lost the real meaning of connecting — actually physically interacting with life itself.

Oh, I barely use my car. If Los Angeles had a better transit system, I’d get rid of mine in a heartbeat. Again, I kinda miss the days of interacting with others at the bus stop or train stop when I lived in Boston. But yeah, I’m so with you — when it comes to being in my car, the music is so very present and absolutely requires my interaction and my involvement (I love that line!). Ha!

Are you a guru? If not, you should be. This post is just so many kinds of awesome!

1. Right on. I couldn’t agree more. I never really thought about it, but on an unconscious level, yeah, I resisted it, if not always successfully. Now that you’ve defined the challenge it will be easier. As a wannabe narcissist it will be a toughie. I always want to check and see if anyone replied to my latest thing. I need to let that go.

2. Again, right on. First of all, when driving, the biggest slice of your awareness and attention has got to be on the act of driving. This is a necessary investment for the safety of others and yourself. You have to remain focused. Cell phones destroy that. Like you, what I find best, is music. What I need is a cradle for my iPod and some sort of verbal hands-free system for playing the music I’m in the mood for right now.

3. This is a toughie for me. I followed your advice to the letter, though. Every morning I now stand before the mirror and say “Carmen is beautiful. Carmen is beautiful.” Wow. You’re right. That is a fantastic way to start the day.